13 posts in this topic

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Hi All,[/color]
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I currently work in a educational environment supporting IT, I've been at this job for around 5 years now. I have recently been in talks with a larger educational establishment about joining them and may get an offer through this week. The problem is I am not sure if its the right thing to do.[/color]
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My current job is brilliant. The workload is enough and varied that I don't get bored and that I feel that I accomplish something, but its never so much that I become stressed or overworked. I go home on time. The team I am in is small, but we all get along and watch out for each other. The morale at the institution is very good and people generally appreciate what we do, I get to take part in sports clubs, etc so socially its brilliant and i'm settled.[/color]
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The move would mostly be motivated by a slight payrise (but on a scale that should increase into higher brackets) and the educational opportunities but until you start working at a place its hard to judge what the reality will be. The place I would be moving to is also large and I worry about getting lost in departmental restructuring and I also worry that my workload would be more specific and I could loose my skillset, where as now I get to work on all parts of the IT at my current employer.[/color]
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I have had two previous jobs before this one, one was at a educational institute that had poor students and facilities although the staff were great. I then moved to a small private sector company and endured a nightmare experience, one that I eventually chose to resign from feeling pretty mentally battered.[/color]
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I suppose what I am worried about is a repeat of my second employment experience, although this time I would feel far worse looking back at the situation I left.[/color]
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Its a hard decision to make as I feel happiness should be the most important goal in life and a job makes a big part of that, but I guess at the same time I could look back at this as a missed chance at career progression.[/color]
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Have any of you guys been in a simular position, how did it turn out?[/color]

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I was in a slightly similar position. Had Longevity (7 years) with the company was paid the same as a supervisor, but wasn't one (had no desire) and the work was pretty good. Not too stressful, and really - the benefits were good.

My motivation to leave was a different company had same type of position (Call center at the time), which started out at $2/hr more than what I was making at the current job which I had maxed out my wage. So, I went and got the job there. I absolutely LOVED the job! Problem was - life events took over and I lost the job 11 months later.

2 weeks later I got a different job, still as an operator, but then making well over $45k annually doing this job. Loved it, but company was downsized when economy collapsed.

So, for me, taking the jump forward paid off - but in the end, sort of ended awkwardly, was out of work for 3 years and am now doing IT and loving it and looking also at a possible offer in the next week or two for full time permanent. (Fingers crossed).

Really sit down do the math - figure out if it will work out for you financially and if so, if the possible stress associated with most certainly a different culture (Even if it is an educational facility - things can differ from place to place). If the stress is worth the pay, and your benefits compare, then it is up to you, but I'd probably do it personally as long as there is a chance for advancement later on.

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Im kind of in the same situation right now. I have always wanted to do desktop support but with the job market right now I setteled for anything that I could, so got a job with BT as a printer engineer. Its not exactly what I wanted to be honest but the benefits are great, I get company car, insurance is paid, petrol paid for, got phone and laptop and also have opportunity to move to desktop support in future. Or my friend can get me in to Burberry as desktop support minus all the benefits as well as travelling to central London which is very expensive going from zone 6 to zone 1.

After lots of thinking and counting and so on I decided to stay with BT as I am already used to the people, I know exactly what im doing and although very slow they are starting to show me some desktop stuff so it looks like it will go well.

Anyways just think about everything overall, you might get paid couple thousand more but how is the the picture overall?

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depends on your age and stage of your career. I always moved as it gave me additional skills to get where I wanted to be later. Generally to get where you want is not just one step but a few and you need to plan it out well. Many people get locked into the "my job is nice and I dont want to move" mentality and then end up sacrificing career progression and more money later down the road.

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[quote name='Phil_B' timestamp='1349959868' post='595240093']
depends on your age and stage of your career. I always moved as it gave me additional skills to get where I wanted to be later. Generally to get where you want is not just one step but a few and you need to plan it out well. Many people get locked into the "my job is nice and I dont want to move" mentality and then end up sacrificing career progression and more money later down the road.
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The thing is, career and pay is not the most important for all people. in general the most happy and relaxed people are the ones who aren't career hunting. while other people need the constant change and challenge of climbing the ladder, of course these are "generally" also the people who never have time for family or enjoy life.

not saying this is black and white and there are no middle grounds of course.

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[quote name='HawkMan' timestamp='1349953647' post='595239925']
Don't ever change jobs for pay rise. Change jobs because you want to or because you want the challenge. But never let pay be the motivation, you'll only end up stressed and depressed and unhappy.
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This, I'm only 32 and in my 11 year career the best advice I was ever told was to not take a job because of the pay. Obviously if you have other motivations (you mentioned education) then the pay is just a bonus.

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[quote name='jerzdawg' timestamp='1349965585' post='595240241']
This, I'm only 32 and in my 11 year career the best advice I was ever told was to not take a job because of the pay. Obviously if you have other motivations (you mentioned education) then the pay is just a bonus.
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It's very individual and only "you" can decide what's best for you, chase career, pay or happiness, none of which need to be mutually exclusive, depends on the person.

but if you have a job you are happy with, you don't desire new challenges right now and aren't getting bored of the job, and you don't need the money, and you are asking yourself if you want to move away from a job you enjoy. Then the answer most likely is, it's not time yet. WHEN you start to get bored, and the job is routine and you do everything on autopilot, that's when you need to decide, maybe I need a new challenge, maybe I need to move on. this may never happen. Many people are happy enough to stay in their good job for their entire life. it's just getting rare today because the expectation in the modern world is that everyone should climb the ladder and the career and pay should be your main focus and if you stay to long in one place, you're a failure.

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I have been in the same situation other then I do not have the previous experience with a bad employer but I always worry about the same thing. I love my job, people, and excellent pay. I am considering moving to be closer to family, for a challenge, for something new, more opportunities, etc. I search for the right job all the time but I worry that it might not be what I want so why ruin a good thing. I do not want to miss an opportunity somewhere else. Every time I decide to say where I am at. I think you have pretty much weighed all of your pros and cons. Make sure to include cost of moving, sell and purchase home, schools if you have kids, lifestyle in the new area, location, etc. I feel to move for more pay you have to make a considerable amount more to overcome all of your current pros. Yet I always wonder what I am missing. lol

I have not made the jump yet. All I can say is don't be scared if that is stopping you.